Philosophy & Approach

School Philosophy

General Approach to Learning:
Play-Based

From the Director:

Our curriculum recognizes that children learn best by doing. To encourage active learning, we use the High/Scope curriculum developed from the latest educational and brain research on how children learn and the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) standards of content area. A wide variety of learning experiences help children achieve balanced growth in five specific areas: spiritual, social-emotional, cognitive, physical, and creative. In the High/Scope curriculum, children develop creativity in art, music, and movement as well as readiness skills in literacy, math, motor skills, and science. Making choices, solving problems, and building social relationships are also important elements.
Underlying our entire curriculum is the Christian component. Through Bible stories, prayers, songs, monthly worship times, and age appropriate spiritual values, each child has a chance to deeepen his/her understanding of God's love and awe for the wonders of His world.
Our Preschool Program
3 Year Old Program
2 days or 3 days a week
8:45 – 11:30am, T/TH or MWF
These are our youngest children and for many, it is their first school experience! Our 3’s learn about friendship, sharing, and independence. They are encouraged to explore the sensory table, oodles of art and creative projects, pretend play, and cooking. Learning is fun with colors, shapes, letters in their names, numbers, stories and rhymes. Walking field trips and large motor activities expand growing minds and bodies. Some of the special learning units might include: My Five Senses, Apples & Pumpkins, Teddy Bear Picnic, Fun on the Farm, Cars & Trucks & Things that Go, and more!
Child must turn 3 by September 1st and must be toilet trained. (For 2/day program, children turning 3 by Nov 1st will be accepted on space available basis).
4 Year Old Program
2 days, 3 days, or 5 days a week
8:45 – 11:30am, T/TH, MWF or M - F
Our 4’s are ready for more challenges as they build new skills and show curiosity about the world around them. They are learning to cooperate, take turns in a group, solve problems, and to make friends. Fours are ready for numbers, name and letter recognition, phonemic awareness, story dictation, and games with sorting and classifying. Let’s discover more with science exploration, yummy cooking projects, fun with music and movement, and block building creations. Daily chances to create, paint, and play help increase their imagination and sense of confidence. Both walking and riding field trips extend class experiences. Some of the special learning units might include: Fairy Tales, Fun with Dr. Seuss, Snow & Ice, Fly Me Into Space, Amazing Bugs, and more!
Child must turn 4 by September 1st
Pre-K Program
3 days or 5 days a week
12:30 – 3:15pm, MWF or M - F
The Pre-K program is designed as a transition year between preschool and kindergarten. For our older fours who have missed the deadline of September 1st for kindergarten entrance and will turn five in late summer or fall, this is the perfect time to prepare with more emphasis on alphabet letters and sounds, pre-reading skills, graphing, sorting, classifying, one-to-one correspondence, pencil grip and fine motor skills. There are still lots of opportunities to explore science, build with blocks and puzzles, paint and draw at the creation station, or write a story or put on a puppet show! Field trips and special projects might include: What’s Inside Our Bodies, Construction Zone, Jungle Safari, and Butterflies.
Pre-K requires recommendation of teaching staff. Child must turn 5 by February 1st for 5 day Pre-K.
Kindergarten Enrichment Program
2 days a week
12:30 – 3:15pm, T/TH
Our unique Kindergarten Enrichment program is for morning half-day kindergarten students who want just a little bit more -- all those extras you can’t fit in to half-day kindergarten! Explore an artist and instrument of the month, hHave fun with puppet shows and plays, science experiments, story writing, drawing/painting/creating, cooking up a storm, and walking/riding field trips. MISD bus service is available from all elementary schools directly from kindergarten to church. Children bring lunch and eat at school. Some of the special learning units might include: Woodworking, Playing with Penguins, Growing Things, Spiders & Bats, Volcanoes, and much more!
Children must be currently enrolled in kindergarten.

Curriculum & Teaching Approach

Learning Philosophy & Tools

Play- based

mostly teacher led

not formally in curriculum

conducive environment

Language

Oral language

Nursery rhymes, poems, songs

Storybook reading

Emerging literacy skills

Cognitive development

Math & number sense

Time & space

Sci. reasoning/physical world

Music

Visual arts

Physical activity

Other subjects taught

Day in the Life

General School Mission

At Mercer Island Presbyterian Church Preschool, our mission is to provide a Christ-centered environment where children will build a strong foundation of early learning experiences.

We believe that each child is a gift from God, is unique, and develops skills at different rates. Our goal is to nurture and nourish this individual spirit within each child to create eager and confident lifelong learners!

A Typical Day

Sample Daily Schedule

A consistent daily routine is important so that children have a sense of control over the events of the day and can anticipate what come next.

8:45-9:15am Arrival & Discovery Time

Children work individually or in small groups on small motor activities, puzzles, curriculum games, in pre-reading or number, and explore creative art. Teachers may pull children aside for special one-on-one activities. Learning is fun as children feel encouraged and free to explore.

9:15-9:30am Circle Time

Whole group comes together to introduce/review day's activities, play a game, read a short story, do a graph, or say a prayer.

9:30-9:45am Music & Movement

Singing, dancing, movement games, instrument play, and rhythm activities are fun!
9:45-10:05am Small Group Time
A unique feature of our program offers children a small group time where teachers can focus on specific learning skills to match materials and projects to the varying developmental readiness needs of the children.

10:05-10:35am Outside Play

Every day the children have large motor play either on the outside play structure and sandbox or in the indoor gymnasium.
10:35-10:50am Snack & Story Time
After children have washed hands and said grace, they share snack and conversation in a small group with a teacher. Teachers share a Bible story once a week and read aloud every day to the group.

10:50-11:30am Choice Time

Children are free to choose from a variety of activity centers including creation station, pretend play and dress-up, blocks, library, sensory table, curriculum corner, and science discovery. Teachers are sensitive to the children’s needs and interests in setting up an engaging environment. A favorite time of day!

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